Chapter 470: Chapter 426: Harvesting Incense Fire (March Monthly Ticket 1500 Bonus Chapter)
Guangling worked efficiently, and by nightfall of the second day, he had summoned all the Mountain Gods and River Gods he could find in the Dongyue Continent.
Those under his rule were called over, while those outside his rule were coaxed over. When they met Jiang Yuebai, they behaved submissively and obediently.
This feeling of accomplishing tasks effortlessly made Jiang Yuebai quite pleased. Besides being intimidated by Jiang Yuebai, Guangling seemed to harbor the idea of letting her take him away from this realm.
The Imperial Decree Golden Book piles up more and more. Jixiang spent five or six days outside, and even found three small pieces from unnoticeable corners in the mountains.
In addition, Jixiang discovered a nearly exhausted Spiritual Vein Pulse.
The pulse was very deep, the last source of Spiritual Energy in the entire Dongyue Continent. There were no cultivators here anymore, and the mountain spirits and wild ghosts of Divine Dao in the mountains didn’t need the spiritual energy.
Jiang Yuebai was straightforward and unceremonious; she utilized the Primordial Magnetic Ruler to trigger the Earth Vein Spiritual Energy and moved the entire mountain containing the Spiritual Vein Pulse into the Lotus Platform Cave Heaven.
The formation of the Spiritual Vein Pulse involves rules of world formation which Jiang Yuebai couldn’t comprehend in a short time, and thus couldn’t extract it separately; hence, she had no choice but to use this clumsy method.
Fortunately, the special effect of the Lotus Platform Cave Heaven decomposed the entire mountain into spiritual energy upon entry, leaving only the pulse, arranging it according to her will beside the Old Rong Tree, transforming it into a spring eye.
Jiang Yuebai wondered if it was an illusion; after the pulse entered the Lotus Platform Cave Heaven, it seemed to gradually revive, with spiritual energy more abundant than outside.
"This pulse is still not enough; I need to find better ones."
The highest mountain in the Cave Heaven was named Lotus Platform Mountain by Jiang Yuebai. She stood at the peak, overlooking the small world beneath, much more vibrant than when first formed.
Forests to the east, desert to the south, tall mountains to the west, and wide lakes to the north.
The pavilions and fake mountain gardens that Xie Jingshan customized for her were all arranged in the northeast, facing the azure lake surrounded by dense reeds, with a skiff moored, resembling a paradise.
Elsewhere in the Cave Heaven were various spiritual beasts that Yun Shang carefully selected for her, including those flying in the sky, running in the woods, and swimming in the lake – all in pairs, ensuring soon it would grow even livelier.
The Flower-Furred Rat and Jixiang’s offspring were also brought along, with Yun Shang leaving only two for further cultivation.
The two Dragonfly Little Demons, accompanied by Mountain Monkeys, helped manage her residential courtyard, having practically become her major stewards.
"Once the spiritual energy here becomes denser, it will be an excellent place to cultivate in seclusion."
Upon exiting the Lotus Platform Cave Heaven and returning to a desolate temple of Yann Hongyu’s, Jiang Yuebai noticed a newfound genuine awe in the eyes of Guangling and other mountain spirits and wild ghosts.
They were stunned seeing Jiang Yuebai moving a mountain with a wave of her hand, associating mountain-moving with the power of Nascent Soul Cultivators, leading to a slight misconception about Jiang Yuebai’s cultivation.
Guangling took the lead in offering all his secretly hoarded Incense Fire Qi to Jiang Yuebai, flattering her with endless compliments, infuriating Yann Hongyu to bleed from the seven orifices even more than before.
After several more days, nine-tenths of the Imperial Decree Golden Book was collected, allowing Jiang Yuebai to instantly survey nine-tenths of the Dongyue Continent.
No trace of Lu Nanzhi or Xie Jingshan was found, nor was there any sign of the Cloud-Breaking Charge.
Jiang Yuebai decided to continue the search in the other two continents instead of wasting time in the Dongyue Continent.
Before leaving, Jiang Yuebai refined the Five Ghosts using the collected Incense Fire Qi, but there wasn’t enough; she couldn’t even finish refining the Yin Qi of one Long-Tongued Ghost, let alone the other four Golden Core Stage ghosts.
She examined the methods employed by mountain spirits and wild ghosts in Dongyue Continent to collect Incense Fire Qi, mostly relying on mortals from various towns and places willingly visiting temples and offering incense. Temples near towns and villages collected faster than those in the mountains.
Additionally, some mountain spirits and wild ghosts would employ Divine Dao Methods to appear in dreams, ’inviting’ mortals to visit temples and offer prayers.
And then there was someone like Yann Hongyu, who would scare mortals by pretending to be gods or ghosts, waiting for them to visit temples and then showcasing divine acts to expel ghosts, collecting a large sum of incense in one go.
Jiang Yuebai pondered for a few moments, then gathered Guangling and Yann Hongyu together.
"We need a big operation!"
Guangling and Yann Hongyu exchanged puzzled looks, unclear about Jiang Yuebai’s intentions.
Jiang Yuebai continued, "I have thought of two methods to collect Incense Fire Qi; one is long-term, the other short-term. The long-term plan is for Guangling to handle, while the short-term one is for Yann Hongyu. Let me explain the long-term one first."
Jiang Yuebai found several excellent Mortal World Secret Martial Arts Manuals, replicated them onto Jade Scrolls, and handed them to Guangling.
"You can travel across the Dongyue Continent, show a few skills to attract mortals, then select some people to pass down superior martial arts. The techniques should be passed layer by layer. Inform them that by worshipping Emperor Dongyue, they will have the opportunity to receive further parts and even better techniques."
Guangling blinked, not quite understanding.
Jiang Yuebai elaborated, "Have those individuals bring ten people each to worship Emperor Dongyue; if they are sufficiently devout, they will receive Second Layer martial arts techniques. For Third Layer techniques, they must recruit twenty other individuals to worship Emperor Dongyue, and so on. Their recruits must do the same, bringing enough people to secure the next layer. If it’s leaked privately, first warn in dreams, if not heeded then..."
After pondering briefly, Guangling suddenly raised his head with gleaming eyes – this method was brilliant! How had he never thought of it?
The plan not only involved spreading martial arts but also indicated that continuous cultivation could lead to entering the Immortal Dao, which would drive the mortals to madness.
Unfortunately, having those mortals worship Emperor Dongyue meant most Incense Fire Qi would be absorbed by the Emperor Dongyue’s Imperial Decree Golden Book, leaving Guangling with little but scraps.
Yet, if enough people were recruited, and it wasn’t limited to Dongyue Continent...even scraps could be plenty!
Guangling grew increasingly excited; Jiang Yuebai, ignoring his enthusiasm, turned to Yann Hongyu.
"Your previous method was good, but too petty; I’ll temporarily leave the Long-Tongued Ghost with you. Have it incite some chaos in various places, make it as grand as possible while minimizing harm, then before mortals you’ll perform an exorcism with great momentum, remember to mask yourself, claiming to be Emperor Dongyue."
"Will that really work?" Yann Hongyu was somewhat unsure.
Jiang Yuebai patted Yann Hongyu’s shoulder, "As long as you believe in yourself, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish. Do a good job, and fabricating a mere Dharma Body will be child’s play. When I return, if your performance satisfies me, I might take you both out of this realm..."
Guangling and Yann Hongyu’s eyes lit up instantly, fixating on Jiang Yuebai.
Jiang Yuebai smiled slyly, "Work hard now."
"Yes!"
The two responded in unison, immediately springing into action.
After leaving the Long-Tongued Ghost with Yann Hongyu, Jiang Yuebai took the Imperial Decree Golden Book and directly flew away from the Dongyue Continent, heading toward Beihuang Continent.
Guangling mentioned that the place was rampant with beasts, seldom visited by humans, and close to Xiting Continent, serving as a training ground for Iron Palm Sect disciples; Dongyue Continent’s mountain spirits and wild ghosts seldom ventured there.
After several days traveling over the sea, the Imperial Decree Golden Book Jiang Yuebai carried suddenly heated up, she felt vast amounts of Incense Fire Qi continuously flood into it.
"Very efficient; once I find the Cloud-Breaking Charge, I wouldn’t mind taking you out along with it."
Jiang Yuebai increased speed, not delaying further, and after six or seven days, she finally stepped onto Beihuang Continent, greeted by vast desert landscapes.
Concealing her presence and aura, Jiang Yuebai continued to fly across Beihuang Continent swiftly.
At dusk the next day, Jiang Yuebai encountered a group of Low-Level Sand Scorpions emerging from beneath the desert to forage, bearing frost marks, presumably grazed by residual waves, faintly.
But upon seeing it, Jiang Yuebai instantly knew those were traces of Lu Nanzhi’s Sword Qi!
